PhD student shines at global design research conference hosted in Scotland
It’s been a busy summer for Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Yaxin Jiang, and for good reason. The second-year PhD in Architecture student presented at two peer-reviewed conferences and co-chaired a session with her supervisor and TMU professor, Terri Peters, at the Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada (SSAC), helping to lead a national conversation on emerging methods in architectural design research.
Most recently, Jiang was invited to share her ongoing PhD research – alongside 71 PhD students from around the world – at the Design Research Society’s (DRS) biennial international conference in Edinburgh. We recap some of Jiang’s top takeaways from the renowned conference.
Gaining international perspectives on architectural design
With over 1000 participants, 655 paper presentations, and 42 parallel sessions, Jiang was immersed in the world of design research while at the University of Edinburgh.
Over four days at DRS 2026, Jiang explored architecture’s expanding role within the design research community and opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration. As TMU is the only school in Canada to offer a PhD in Architecture that conducts research through design, it was important for Jiang to understand how Canadian architects can be more active in these forums. From moderated sessions to hallway conversations, she found new perspectives that inspire her ongoing work. “Participating in a conference in person makes spontaneous exchanges of ideas possible,” shared Jiang.
Getting hands-on with image-based publishing
By turning a visual essay into collage, Jiang found the alternative structure allowed the images to stand out and speak for themselves. (Photo credit: Dora Vanette, Managing Editor of Design and Culture)
In one standout exploration session, Jiang joined "How to Write With Images? Exploring Visual Essay Formats for Publishing," facilitated by editors Chiara Del Gaudio and Dora Vanette from the Design and Culture journal. Working in a small group, Jiang experimented with collage techniques to find alternative methods to present design research findings – going beyond the limitations of conventional paper formats. For Jiang, the analytical value of reading image-based publications further reinforced the drawing methods she uses at TMU as part of her PhD architectural design research.
Exploring the streets and architecture of Edinburgh
Jiang took in the sights of Scotland alongside peers from around the world, including Paolo Ciuccarelli, Professor of Design and Founding Director of the Center for Design at Northeastern University.
Jiang received a warm Scotland welcome from day one, as the conference opened with a flute performance at the University of Edinburgh’s impressive McEwan Hall. She explored Abbeyhill on foot and visited the Scottish Parliament Building, where she learned more about the history of Scotland and Gaelic people. The building’s architecture left a lasting impact on Jiang. “It felt like a powerful manifesto of the spirit of the city: fully open to the public, shaped by modern materials and techniques, and growing organically.”
Asking “what is the future of design through research?”
Jiang (middle) met with design researchers from around the world including DRS Executive Board members Justin Sacks (right) and Colin Gray (left).
For Jiang, design research is strongly future-oriented and is the driving force to bring knowledge and collaboration across disciplines. The conference gave her the perfect platform to ask and discuss questions facing the field.“It was very meaningful to be part of such a large community of people interested in breaking boundaries and envisioning something better for the future,” she shared. One of her key findings was that to understand people’s lived experiences, design researchers need to design tools, or use design itself as a tool to support knowledge creation and interpretation in a designerly way – staying flexible and adaptive to change.
About Jiang’s “Designing Inclusive Urban Journey” project
Jiang explores the role of architectural design research in better integrating the lived experiences of people into complex urban regeneration processes. Informed by a research internship with The Bentway Conservancy and her work with Equitable Waterfront, a Quality in Canada’s Built Environment (QCBE) research partnership, she focuses her work on the Gardiner Expressway and the Toronto Waterfront. At DRS, she shared how architectural drawings and mapping can help reveal the potential of underused spaces to become public spaces and key locations for interventions that create more inclusive urban experiences.
About TMU’s PhD in Architecture program
TMU’s PhD in Architecture is the only architecture doctoral program in Canada focused on research through design. Students in the program use design as a multifaceted tool to solve complex societal and environmental challenges – with the City of Toronto acting as a living laboratory for research projects. Learn more about the PhD in Architecture program.
Learn more about architectural science professor Terri Peters.
Explore The Living Atlas of Quality, TMU’s research project with QCBE. (external link)
Learn more about the The Design Research Society (DRS) biennial conference (external link)